Intel’s Upcoming “Nova Lake” and “Razer Lake” Architectures Discovered in Linux Kernel, Confirming Next-Gen CPU Releases

Intel appears to be making significant strides toward its future CPU offerings, as revealed through the discovery of its upcoming “Nova Lake”and “Razer Lake”architectures in the Linux kernel. This development not only underscores the company’s ongoing ambitions but also hints at a new direction for its product lineup.

Intel’s Nova Lake and Razer Lake Architectures Confirmed in Linux Kernel

Despite the relatively lukewarm market reception of its current CPU models, including the Arrow Lake-S series, Intel remains steadfast in its commitment to future innovations. Evidence of the next-generation architectures, Nova Lake and Razer Lake, has recently emerged via PCI IDs in the Linux kernel (source: @GawroskiT). This unveiling not only validates the anticipated naming convention but also identifies specific series within the Nova Lake family, such as Nova Lake-H (NVL-H) and Nova Lake-S (NVL-S).

Intel IDs in kernel:Intel nova lake / nvl-h / nvl-s (desktop)Intel razor lake / rzl-h / rzl-m pic.twitter.com/rtEdkIjt1h

— Tomasz Gawroński (@GawroskiT) January 3, 2025

While specifics on these upcoming CPU lineups remain sparse, earlier speculations suggest that Nova Lake is set to be a legitimate successor to the current Arrow Lake-S series and will belong to what is expected to be the “Core Ultra 400″range. This aligns with Intel’s trend towards coherent product naming. Regarding technology, Nova Lake is anticipated to leverage either Intel’s 14A process or TSMC’s cutting-edge 2nm fabrication, depending on how these nodes develop.

Recent leaks, particularly one from Dell, have surfaced regarding the Nova Lake-H series, which reveals expected thermal design power (TDP) configurations ranging from 20W to 80W. This insight is the first indicator of the capabilities we can anticipate from the mobile variant of the Nova Lake series. In contrast, details about Razer Lake remain elusive. Prior discussions have indicated that Razer Lake-S will aim to succeed Nova Lake-S; however, comprehensive specifications are currently unknown, apart from its expected availability in S, M, and H series variants.

Looking ahead, projections suggest that Nova Lake could debut as early as 2026, while Razer Lake may follow suit in 2027, contingent on Intel’s evolving roadmap. The recent appearance of PCI IDs strongly implies that both architectures are already under development, which is an exciting sign for both enthusiasts and industry stakeholders alike.

Comparing Intel Desktop CPU Generations

Intel CPU Family	Processor Process	Processor Architecture	Graphics Architecture	Processors Cores/Threads (Max)	Platform	Memory Support	PCIe Support	Launch
Alder Lake (12th Gen)	Intel 7	Golden Cove (P-Core) / Gracemont (E-Core)	HD 700 Series	16/24	LGA 1700/1800	DDR5 / DDR4	PCIe Gen 5.0	2021
Raptor Lake (13th Gen)	Intel 7	Raptor Cove (P-Core) / Gracemont (E-Core)	HD 700 Series	24/32	LGA 1700/1800	DDR5 / DDR4	PCIe Gen 5.0	2022
Raptor Lake Refresh (14th Gen)	Intel 7	Raptor Cove (P-Core) / Gracemont (E-Core)	HD 700 Series	24/32	LGA 1700/1800	DDR5 / DDR4	PCIe Gen 5.0	2023
Arrow Lake (Core Ultra 200)	TSMC N3B?	Lion Cove (P-Core) / Skymont (E-Core)	Xe1 (Alchemist)	24/24	LGA 1851	DDR5	PCIe Gen 5.0	2024
Arrow Lake Refresh (Canceled)	TSMC N3B?	Lion Cove (P-Core) / Skymont (E-Core)	Xe1 (Alchemist)	TBD	LGA 1851	DDR5	PCIe Gen 5.0	2025
Nova Lake (Core Ultra 400?)	TBA	Coyote Cove (P-Core) / Arctic Wolf (E-Core)	TBA	TBA	TBA	DDR5?	PCIe Gen 6.0?	2026
Razer Lake (Core Ultra 500?)	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA	2027?